“The Godfather of Punk” Iggy Pop will headline Rifflandia 2023 in Victoria.
Joining the punk legend at the top of the bill are electronic heavyweights Diplo and Chris Lake and hip-hop super duo Run The Jewels.
This year has a very diverse lineup of genres. A couple legendary jazz and R&B artists are also in the mix in Herbie Hancock and Mavis Staples. There’s eight-time Grammy award winning reggae artist Stephen Marley, 90s hip-hop duo Salt-n-Pepa, L.A. crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, and even billionaire heiress Paris Hilton.
Chromeo will finally perform at Rifflandia after they were forced to cancel as a headliner in 2015 due to Dave Macklovitch coming down with a stomach virus.
Other Canadians to perform will be a couple recent Juno Award winners in Montreal producer duo Banx & Ranx and Timmons, Ontario singer-songwriter Preston Pablo. Both acts were nominated for three Junos each and won for Breakthrough Group and Breakthrough Artist of the year respectively.
Other notable names include Chet Faker, KALEO, Paul Oakenfold, Matt Maeson, lovelytheband and singer-songwriter David Kushner who is currently charting high on Billboard’s Canada Hot 100.
This year Rifflandia is splitting into two weekends with the Electric Avenue portion of the festival happening first from Thursday September 7 to Saturday September 9, 2023. Royal Athletic Park will be the venue for the festival’s traditional weekend of Friday September 15 to Sunday September 17, 2023.
“We are extremely excited to present our most high-profile and eclectic collection of artists to date!” said Rifflandia CEO Nick Blasko. “Two weekends will allow both of our flagship event sites to grow into the best versions of themselves, offering two distinct festival experiences under the Rifflandia Festival umbrella! September Forever and Ever!”
Electric Avenue will feature an expanded footprint moving further into the Songhees/Esquimalt Nations-owned land behind Phillips Brewery. The main stage will now be in that area according to a map on the festival website. The stage on the Phillips loading dock will now be called the Music BC Base 2 Stage. The dome returns with days curated by Westwood Recordings and a night called “Big Night”. Music will also begin earlier than the 8pm start of previous years with September 7 and 8 going from 5pm to midnight and September 9 going from 2:30pm to midnight. Electric Avenue will also have a VIP section with sight lines to the new main stage.
Passes for Rifflandia 2023 go on Thursday May 18 at 10am. Prices have not been released yet.
More information can be found at rifflandia.com
The Park (September 15 – 17):
Iggy Pop | Diplo | Herbie Hancock | Salt-n-Pepa | Stephen Marley | Marc Rebillet | Mavis Staples | Chet Faker | KALEO | Two Feet | Suicidal Tendencies | Matt Maeson | lovelytheband | David Kushner | Mallrat | U.S. Girls | Sports Team | Preston Pablo | Tia Wood | DijahSB | The Poor Choices | The Choirs YYJ
Electric Avenue (September 7-9):
Chris Lake | Run the Jewels | Paris Hilton | Paul Oakenfold | Chromeo | Dr. Fresch | Destructo | Blu DeTiger | Kaleena Zanders | Young Bombs | Banx & Ranx | Maddy O’Neal | Lun | jackLNDN | Cazztek | Smalltown DJs | DiRTY RADiO | Fort Knox Five | Boogey The Beat | Max Ulis | Dane | Burchill | Westwood (In The Dome) | Big Night (In The Dome) | Music BC Base 2 Stage | Comedy Stage
